Recruiters have continued to pursue UTSA's prized catch

Carthage quarterback Blake Bogenschutz, No. 4, is brought down by a group of West Orange-Stark defenders during Friday night's game. West Orange-Stark High School played against Carthage High School at the Carroll A. "Butch" Thomas Stadium on Friday night.
Photo taken
Jake Daniels/@JakeD_in_SETX

Photo By Randy Edwards / For the Express-News

Carthage quarterback Blake Bogenschutz, who is committed to UTSA, threw for 4,003 yards, 57 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

SAN ANTONIO — Carthage quarterback Blake Bogenschutz committed last June to play college football for UTSA, but that doesn't mean the phone has stopped ringing in the office of his high school coach.

“They're still calling, but he is going to be a Roadrunner,” Carthage coach Scott Surratt said. “They were the ones that offered him (a scholarship) first. He committed. He believes in his commitment.”

Interest remains high in Bogenschutz, who led the Bulldogs to the Class 3A Division I state title last fall.

Surratt said Stanford of the Pac-12 and Northwestern of the Big Ten called. Even the Big 12's Texas Tech, which already secured a commitment from Whitehouse star Patrick Mahomes, inquired.

As coaches from those schools called Surratt's office, a cat-and-mouse game ensued, with none of the three actually offering scholarships.

“Well, first of all, when you're in that business, they want to see how interested you are,” Surratt said. “They don't really offer a kid without interest, especially a high-profile quarterback. So, basically, when he told them he didn't have much interest, then, no, they did not offer him.”

It's obvious why the interest in Bogenschutz has spiked considerably since last summer.

In his senior year, he threw for 4,003 yards and 57 touchdowns (against only four interceptions), led Carthage to a 15-1 record and was named All-State.

In addition, Bogenschutz is expected to graduate with a GPA above 4.0. He could be the class valedictorian.

“Blake did some amazing things,” Surratt said. “Fifty-seven touchdowns and four interceptions? You just don't go out there and do those things. You have to prepare extremely hard.”

Football schedule: The Roadrunners will play Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, UTEP, Rice, Southern Mississippi, Western Kentucky and North Texas on its eight-game Conference USA schedule in the fall. Four non-conference games are against Houston, Arizona, Oklahoma State and New Mexico.

The season opens Aug. 30 at Houston.

UTSA opens at home Sept. 6 against Arizona. After a game Sept. 13 at Oklahoma State, the Roadrunners have an open date before opening conference play at Florida Atlantic on Sept. 27.

A key game looms Nov. 8 in Houston against defending C-USA champion Rice.